Salman Rushdie: AI Must Master Humor Before It Poses a Threat to Authors

Salman Rushdie recently expressed that authors currently remain insulated from the threats posed by AI, but he emphasized that this protection would wane once AI could produce a book capable of eliciting laughter. During his appearance at the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, he admitted to never having experimented with AI and preferred to act as if it didn’t exist. Rushdie pointed out a significant limitation of AI: its inability to generate original jokes. “AI lacks a sense of humor—you wouldn’t want to hear a joke told by ChatGPT. If there’s ever a humorous book crafted by it, I think we’ll be in trouble,” he commented.

This event marked Rushdie’s most prominent in-person appearance in the UK since the attack he suffered in the US, which left him blind in his right eye. Attendees were advised to arrive early due to heightened security measures, with police and security personnel positioned around the venue.

At 77 years old, Rushdie expressed his relief regarding the conviction of his attacker, Hadi Matar, who received a 25-year sentence for attempted murder and assault. He indicated that writing about the incident in his book, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, provided him a sense of closure. “I’m relieved that the trial is behind me and that he received the maximum sentence. The closure came from completing the writing process,” he stated.

Additionally, Rushdie shared his excitement about new fiction set to be released later this year, mentioning that writing once again felt like returning home. He reflected, “Since the attack, everyone seems primarily interested in discussing that event. I want to move past it and share new stories.” He humorously noted that when he aspired to be a writer, the thought of penning autobiographical work never appealed to him, as he found it rather mundane compared to creating fictional stories.

Rushdie also touched upon the political landscape, addressing Donald Trump and noting that the world currently appears to be in an “orange moment.” He remarked, “I’m unsure how to handle it—he was elected,” while drawing comparisons to historical figures, adding, “So was Hitler, by the way.”

In a world where differing truths abound, Rushdie argued for the growing significance of stories and fables, which can often feel more authentic. He admitted a personal disfavor towards books that aim to impart lessons, preferring those in which he could immerse himself. With a playful tone, he remarked that most writers struggle financially unless they are creating works about “child wizards,” likening J.K. Rowling to the Taylor Swift of the literary realm.

Rushdie has lived in hiding for years due to threats against his life following the publication of his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, which drew inspiration from the life of the Muslim prophet Muhammad in 1988. In August 2022, he was attacked while delivering a lecture in New York, sustaining severe injuries, including substantial vision loss, liver damage, and a paralyzed hand due to nerve injury. In Knife, he recounts the harrowing events of the attack and its aftermath, vividly describing his injuries while also detailing his journey of healing and recovery.